Hey, Smart Moms!

You all know I love green energy. And solar is great, but don’t stop there! Find other ways to save money!

Who doesn’t want to save more money?

There are simple ways you can do this that most people don’t even know. It’s either not obvious, people aren’t telling them, or they haven’t done the research themselves.

Well never fear, I’m here to share some most-helpful tips. I love eliminating ignorance. In my own life, and otherwise. Especially when it means $$$ for us!

Money Saving Tips!

• Get curtains for windows. This can keep the cool or hot air in and/or out. (1,2) You can make that as intricate as you want. You could get climate control curtains, reflective films, use tin foil, double-glazing, and some other creative things to help with room temperature (see sources for expanded ideas). And, even if you keep it simple, regular curtains can make a difference in warmth from the sun. They provide some insulation, which is going to help you shave costs.
• Plant trees in front of windows and around house. Yeah, this will take some time. But it’s important to get started. Or, if you’re building, to plan for it! Trees can save you a lot in energy costs just because of the shade they provide.
• Stay Energy Star efficient! Keep your appliances all up to date and at full energy efficiency. Energy-efficient appliances cost you less to operate in the long haul and are so worth it.
• Switch all lightbulbs to LED bulbs. On average, 1 LED light bulb can save a homeowner $62.00 during its lifetime. They used to be a bit pricier, but they are now more affordable. Especially for the savings they produce over time. (3) Also, energy star qualified compact fluorescent lights last 7xs longer than typical bulbs and use 75% less energy. (4) Better for home, pocket, and world.
• Insulation in your attic/ceiling or an outside wall. Heat and cool air can escape through gaps in walls, doors, ceilings, and attics. It’s important seal it with the proper material. (5) Otherwise it’s like letting cash slip out and fly away.
• Update your outside windows. Older windows may be less energy-efficient. It may actually save you money if you replace them.
• Check your ac unit. Make sure it’s up to date, clean, and energy efficient. (6, 7)
• Consider air sealing your home and duct sealing. Think of your home like an envelope. Envelopes need to be sealed against leaks. Right? Air leakage makes your home less comfortable. And why is that? Because those leaks are “allowing moisture, cold drafts…and airborne pollutants” inside. (8) Leaking air also accounts for about “25 percent and 40 percent of the energy used for heating and cooling” in most homes. (8) You may need to look up and find out if you’re in need of sealing your ducts–which are “designed to supply conditioned air from space heating and cooling equipment to the living spaces and return an equal volume of air from the living spaces back to the heating and cooling equipment to be conditioned.”(9) These are things I wouldn’t ever think about on my own. And I doubt a lot of homeowners do. It’s important to know and think about how to cut down costs.

It’s easy to see how important insulation and sealing up can be to help you cut energy costs. Even just little things like changing light bulbs, remembering to shut off lights, curtains, cutting down on washing, and keeping your equipment up to date and running well is important.

Hope these tips help you smart moms out!

(1) http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-24757144

(2) http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2013/07/how-to-use-your-shades-blinds-and-curtains-to-beat-the-heat/index.htm

(3) http://www.thesimpledollar.com/the-light-bulb-showdown-leds-vs-cfls-vs-incandescent-bulbs-whats-the-best-deal-now-and-in-the-future/

(4) http://switchitprovo.com/ideas-to-save-energy/

(5) http://switchitprovo.com/ideas-to-save-energy/increasing-insulation/

(6) https://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=heat_cool.pr_checklist_consumers

(7) https://www.energystar.gov/products/heating_cooling/air_conditioning_central

(8) http://switchitprovo.com/ideas-to-save-energy/air-sealing/

(9) http://switchitprovo.com/ideas-to-save-energy/duct-sealing/